Arapahoe County voters on Tuesday bucked the anti-tax trend that was popular during Tuesday’s off-year election, overwhelmingly supporting a sales-and-use tax that brings $18 million to the county every year for trails, open space and parks.

“People have seen the value of what we do,” said Ellen Belef, chair of the Yes on 1A campaign.

Elsewhere around Colorado, almost every ballot issue to raise taxes was defeated, including the statewide Proposition 103 that asked voters to approve raising the state income tax and sales tax to support K-12 education.

In Aurora, a ballot proposal to fund community recreation centers also failed, but not the reinstatement of the trails, parks and open space tax that was created in 2003 and is relatively small — 25 cents on a $100 purchase. The tax was due to sunset after 10 years. Roughly 62 percent of voters approved its reinstatement.

Supporters believe that its approval was probably because it was a reinstatement, not a new tax. And that its benefits are so obvious — acquisition of land and improvements along the South Platte Trail, purchase of open space and money for cities in the county. Fifty percent of the revenue is returned to cities and towns based upon population to be used to enhance their parks, trails and open space.

The city of Aurora, for example, has received almost $40 million from the tax over the past nine years.

“The program has been well run, visible, people aware of it and people are aware of the investments,” said Tim Wohlgenant, Colorado State Director of the Trust for Public Land. “People do really value in those investments in parks and trails and quality of life. People recognize that. These days, a lot of people are staying home and using their parks and trails more. They really appreciate that experience in nature.”

U.S. Rep Mike Coffman sits outside before Chief Justice Robert Hyatt's courtroom before taking the stand in a redistricting trial. The Aurora Republican's district could greatly change.

GOP Congressman Mike Coffman said today he thinks Democrats are taking aim at him because they view him as a potential U.S. Senate candidate.

A Democratic map for new congressional boundaries takes Coffman out of a safe GOP seat in the south metro area and puts him into a competitive district that includes almost all of Aurora.

“I understand the mentality of the maps,” said Coffman, R-Aurora.

An attorney for two Latino groups that have joined in the redistricting lawsuit also questioned Coffman about his support for certain pieces of legislation, including English Only, the Dream Act and the Birthright Citizens Act.

The attorney asked if Coffman’s support those three issues would change if his district had more Hispanics. “No,” Coffman said.

Douglas County -- and the theme of ag vs. urban -- is taking center stage today at a trial over congressional boundaries. In the last decade, Douglas County led all Colorado counties in the percentage of growth.

Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella took the stand today as the first witness in a battle over redrawing congressional lines, disputing the notion that the county is some sort of agricultural green acres.

She pointed out that 90 percent of the county lives in urban areas, including Highlands Ranch.

Democrats have proposed moving Douglas County out of a south-metro based congressional district into one that includes most of the Eastern Plains. Douglas County wants to remain whole and remain in a district much like its current one.

Welcome to the latest round of Map Wars, which began with a special legislative committee unable to agree on new boundaries for Colorado’s seven congressional districts and now is before Chief Judge Robert Hyatt in Denver District Court.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.